Baker and Wick, Attorneys at LawBaker and Wick, Attorneys at Law2024-03-20T10:35:24Zhttps://www.bakerandwick.com/feed/atom/WordPress/wp-content/uploads/sites/1200853/2021/01/cropped-fav_icon-32x32.jpgOn Behalf of Baker and Wick, Attorneys at Lawhttps://www.bakerandwick.com/?p=470522024-03-15T10:35:56Z2024-03-20T10:35:24ZThere are several types of divorce counseling available
Counseling can help people overcome or better manage the challenges inherent in the divorce process. Some spouses attempt couples therapy near the end of a marriage and may feel more confident about their decision to file, as they have made every reasonable attempt to work through their issues.
Other times, they may attend co-parenting counseling to acquire skills that can help them handle shared custody challenges. It is also sometimes possible for one individual to go through divorce therapy sessions on their own as a way of processing their feelings and being more rational in their approach to divorce negotiations.
For some people, talking to an outside mental health professional could help them stay focused on the big picture. In other cases, counseling might help people practice communication or conflict-resolution skills so that they can cooperate with one another more effectively.
Spouses who can control their emotional reactions and communicate calmly may have a better chance of resolving their ongoing disagreements about custody, financial support or property division. Counseling can, therefore, be one of several tools that could have set couples up for a dissolution instead of a stressful and relationship-damaging litigated divorce. At the end of the day, finding the right tools may help people control the degree of conflict and uncertainty inherent in Ohio divorce proceedings.]]>On Behalf of Baker and Wick, Attorneys at Lawhttps://www.bakerandwick.com/?p=470502024-02-13T05:34:44Z2024-02-16T05:34:32ZChild custody matters
Few things make people more emotional than the idea of losing time with their children. Divorce forces parents to compromise regarding the time that they have with their children and even the decisions about their upbringing. Those who try to maintain an objective focus on what would be best for the children may find that they have an easier time settling custody matters amicably instead of fighting over them.
High-value assets
Asset division is also frequently a source of contention that may make people emotional. The thought of losing retirement savings can make people anxious, and moving out of the marital home can also be a difficult decision to make. Spouses who identify their highest-value assets and set realistic goals about property division may find it easier to set aside their emotional reactions and focus more on their practical needs.
Spousal support or alimony
It is common for one spouse to make professional sacrifices for the benefit of the family unit. They choose to stay home, work part-time or commit less to their career so that they can manage the household and care for the couple's children. They may then have an emotional reaction to discussions about how much support they can get as they begin transitioning to independent living.
At the end of the day, the better that someone understands the risk of future conflict and the more clarity they have on how the Ohio courts might rule in litigated divorces, the easier it may be to overcome negative emotions and work cooperatively to pursue a marital dissolution.]]>On Behalf of Baker and Wick, Attorneys at Lawhttps://www.bakerandwick.com/?p=470492024-01-19T10:33:35Z2024-01-24T10:32:49ZThose without children, in particular, may find that dissolution is a reasonable way to end a marital relationship.
Often, those preparing to end a marriage have gone through a difficult time in their relationships and may not relate well to one another. Their emotions may be strong, which can make it hard to settle disagreements. The prospect of amicably agreeing on everything may seem unrealistic to them. Divorce mediation can potentially benefit those who would prefer dissolution to divorce but who currently do not agree on all the details of their situation.
How mediation works
The goal of mediation is a mutually agreeable compromise on marital issues currently causing disputes. The spouses work with a neutral third-party professional called a mediator. The mediator asks questions and hears each spouse's side of the story. They help promote discussions that can lead to compromise and an agreement between the spouses.
Mediation is not a binding process, which means that the spouses have to sign a written agreement at the end of their negotiations if they want to avoid divorce litigation. They may need to talk about many different issues to reach an agreement. Unlike family court, divorce mediation is confidential under Ohio state law. Spouses can discuss issues related to marital misconduct, like infidelity, to arrive at a reasonable solution for property division during mediation. They can also discuss concerning personal issues, like substance abuse disorders or anger issues, when attempting to settle child custody matters.
When both spouses commit to making mediation work, they can maintain control over the dissolution process while also reducing how much they pay for their legal case. Mediation can help couples settle their disagreements about marital matters, and then they can move forward with a dissolution instead of a litigated divorce.
Realizing that mediation is sometimes necessary to make dissolution a realistic option can potentially help Ohio couples minimize the conflict involved with ending a marriage.
]]>On Behalf of Baker and Wick, Attorneys at Lawhttps://www.bakerandwick.com/?p=470472023-12-20T16:38:56Z2023-12-26T01:50:24ZNarcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) is a psychological condition characterized by an inflated sense of self-importance, a constant need for admiration and a lack of empathy for others.
Understanding these traits is crucial when embarking on a divorce with a narcissistic spouse. Narcissists are known for their manipulative tactics, and during the process of terminating your marriage they may intensify these behaviors to maintain control. From gaslighting to spreading false narratives, understanding their tactics is essential for protecting your interests.
Anticipate and prepare for an emotional rollercoaster
Expect emotional turbulence throughout the divorce process. Narcissists can oscillate between charm and aggression, making it challenging to predict their behavior. Prepare yourself for a rollercoaster ride and focus on maintaining emotional resilience.
If children are involved, you should prioritize protecting the kids from your soon-to-be ex-partner’s calculated highs and lows. Navigating co-parenting with a narcissist requires establishing clear boundaries. Clearly define roles and responsibilities, minimizing direct contact when possible. Utilize communication channels like emails to maintain documentation of interactions.
Consider implementing parallel parenting, a strategy where co-parents disengage from each other’s lives as much as possible. This approach minimizes direct conflict, allowing both parties to focus on their parental responsibilities without unnecessary friction.
When in divorce proceedings, documentation should be your ally; keep meticulous records of conversations, incidents and any relevant communication. This evidence can be crucial in protecting your rights and securing a fair outcome.
Seek professional support to cope with the pressure
It’s crucial to acknowledge that separating from a narcissist can weigh you down mentally and emotionally. Therefore, you should consider seeking therapy or counseling to help you cope with the stress and trauma associated with the process.
Post-divorce, prioritize rebuilding your life. Reconnect with your interests, invest time in personal re-discovery and surround yourself with a supportive network. This not only accelerates healing but also reinforces your resilience in the face of adversity.
Ending a marriage to a a narcissist is undoubtedly challenging, but with strategic planning and emotional fortitude, it is possible to navigate the process successfully. By understanding the nuances of narcissistic behavior, implementing effective co-parenting strategies, seeking legal guidance and prioritizing self-care, you can emerge from the experience ready for a brighter future.]]>On Behalf of Baker and Wick, Attorneys at Lawhttps://www.bakerandwick.com/?p=470402023-11-27T06:10:27Z2023-11-30T12:17:20ZGrowing apart
Over time, couples grow and change. This can happen in different directions, which may lead to a loss of emotional connection. This is why couples sometimes get divorced when they become empty-nesters. They have been growing apart for years, and they only realize it when they no longer have the distraction of children in the home. This can also happen when people get married at a very young age, as they are bound to change fairly dramatically as they grow up.
External stressors
External pressures such as job loss, illness, extended family issues or major life changes can strain a marriage and contribute to divorce. For instance, someone may take a new job that requires extensive travel. Their spouse knows that is not a lifestyle they want to be part of and files for divorce accordingly.
Substance abuse
Drug or alcohol addiction can significantly impact a marriage, leading to breakdowns in trust, communication and overall stability. Addiction can also lead to financial issues, especially when one person spends excessively to fund that addiction. Certainly, this can lead to a contentious divorce where spouses argue about substance abuse issues. But it can also lead to a low-conflict divorce where the healthier spouse cares about their partner and wants them to get help – but also knows that they just cannot stay in the marriage any longer.
It's important to note that each relationship is unique, and the reasons for divorce can be much different from one couple to the next. Sometimes, a combination of several factors contributes to the breakdown of a marriage, leading to the decision to divorce. Those who do decide to divorce can seek legal guidance proactively in order to better understand their rights and options and to better safeguard their interests moving forward.]]>On Behalf of Baker and Wick, Attorneys at Lawhttps://www.bakerandwick.com/?p=470382023-10-27T05:39:20Z2023-11-01T05:38:31ZAnnulment establishes that a marriage was never valid
For someone to obtain an annulment in Ohio, they need to prove that the marriage was not valid for one of a limited number of reasons enshrined in state law. One of the reasons for annulment would involve someone under the age of 18 possibly misrepresenting their circumstances to get married while too young to legally do so. If either spouse is not yet 18 years of age at the time of the marriage, then an annulment could be an option.
Cases involving bigamy or one of the spouses still having a legal marriage to someone else at the time of the new marriage would also qualify for annulment. A marriage where one spouse is mentally incompetent could end an annulment, as could marriages that began due to fraud or force, such as a threat to an individual or their family members. Finally, annulment can be an option in scenarios in which people never consummate the marriage. A successful annulment will effectively make it as though the marriage never occurred because it was never lawful.
Dissolution ends of marriage through mutual consent
Although divorce is a litigated process, dissolution is a consensual, often amicable process. Those pursuing a marital dissolution in Ohio have to agree that the end of the marriage is necessary and must also agree on all major terms. Spouses typically need to settle issues involving financial support, child custody and property division to qualify for a dissolution. Unlike with an annulment, dissolution ends a marriage rather than negating it in a legal sense. For many couples, dissolution is the more practical way to end a legally valid union.
Ultimately, seeking legal guidance and learning about the different ways to end a marriage in Ohio can help people choose the right path forward for their families.]]>On Behalf of Baker and Wick, Attorneys at Lawhttps://www.bakerandwick.com/?p=470372023-09-26T10:40:07Z2023-09-29T10:39:38ZCreate a comprehensive inventory
One of the most valuable first steps couples can take when preparing to negotiate a property division settlement for dissolution would be to establish exactly what resources and financial obligations they need to divide. The marital estate includes not just the income people earned while married and the property they purchased with that money but also the financial obligations taken on during the marriage, like credit card balances. Spouses may want to work together to create that inventory of assets, or they may each choose to keep a list and then work together to combine them.
Prioritize fairness
Property division laws in Ohio require that judges handling a divorce seek to divide marital property in a reasonable and fair matter. Couples preparing for divorce will typically need to utilize a similar approach, particularly because they need to agree with one another on the final terms. People may need to release their emotional attachment to certain assets and employ a pragmatic approach where they look at the value of different marital resources. Thinking about long-term needs and recovery from the divorce can be a more effective approach than prioritizing one's emotional responses at the moment.
Those who are willing to compromise and who understand that they will need to make some concessions will typically have an easier time working out property division disagreements so that they can pursue an Ohio dissolution. Learning more about what couples must undergo to pursue a dissolution may help people make use of this low-conflict solution in response to a marriage that has run its course.]]>On Behalf of Baker and Wick, Attorneys at Lawhttps://www.bakerandwick.com/?p=470362023-08-21T05:48:00Z2023-08-24T05:47:33ZThe division of parenting time
When people talk about custody in Ohio, what they mean is actually the division of parenting time or physical custody. Deciding the general percentage of time that the children will spend with each parent is important. Parents can also help limit future conflict by discussing matters like how they will share holidays and celebrate birthdays. Those who take the time to plan for challenges, like school vacations, will have an easier time adjusting to their new family arrangements and will be less likely to end up embroiled in conflict later.
The allocation of parental responsibility
Parents have to make numerous important decisions on behalf of their children. They decide where to live and what schools the children will attend, as well as what medical treatment they receive and what religion they observe. Parents will need to reach an agreement regarding how they will share that decision-making authority or legal custody. They may also want to have a plan discussing certain standards for the children, from the religion that they will observe to the disciplinary expectations that will remain consistent across both households.
It can be a challenge for parents to reach amicable solutions regarding custody matters, but doing so is necessary if those with minor children want to pursue a dissolution rather than a divorce. Thankfully, when things get challenging, seeking legal guidance is always an option.]]>On Behalf of Baker and Wick, Attorneys at Lawhttps://www.bakerandwick.com/?p=470352023-07-19T20:24:02Z2023-07-21T18:51:20Zhost of other reasons that aren’t inherently rooted in betrayal, including:
Getting married before they felt they were ready for it
Getting married at a young age
Slowly drifting apart over time
Having unrealistic expectations that were not met
Experiencing a difference in a couple’s level of physical attraction
In short, the end of the marriage may be a relatively agreeable solution to a couple’s challenges more so than it may be contentious. Both people may realize that their relationship just isn’t what they were hoping for, and they can work together to end it so that they can both move on. Divorce proceedings don’t have to be a fight wherein the parties are trying to “win” because both spouses may be trying to accomplish the same goals. In many divorces, spouses are not blaming each other and no one is at fault.
Making divorce go more smoothly
Sometimes, parents of minor children decide to work together to put their children first. This can lower the amount of conflict involved in their divorce because they don’t feel like they are opposing one another. Instead, they work as a team to find the best solution for their children.
It’s also important to remember that there’s a business side to divorce. Money has to be divided. Real estate has to be addressed. Legal decisions have to be made. If possible, it can help to put emotions aside and simply focus on accomplishing these necessary legal tasks. Again, when both people are working toward the same goal, this effort generally leads to far less conflict.
Contested divorce litigation is not the only way forward. If your marriage is at an end and you want to benefit from a low-conflict approach to your situation, seek legal guidance concerning dissolution and uncontested approaches to the process to learn more.]]>On Behalf of Baker and Wick, Attorneys at Lawhttps://www.bakerandwick.com/?p=470332023-06-19T15:56:52Z2023-06-22T07:51:40Zdissolution instead of a litigated divorce can potentially limit how much they fight with their spouse and also how much it will cost to legally end their marriage.
What makes dissolution different?
Dissolution is a cooperative, uncontested process in which a married couple asks the family courts to end their marriage. Their uncontested filing provides clear information about the details of doing so. During litigated divorces in Ohio, spouses typically have to present evidence to the courts about their circumstances and then have a judge rule on major disputes. A contested divorce can take months, even years, to resolve and can easily cost more than $20,000 to resolve. The more issues the courts must review, the more the process costs.
The uncontested proceedings that occurred during a marital dissolution are faster because a judge does not have to review all of the details about the family's situation or make decisions about what would be fair for property division or better for the children regarding custody. Given that it takes less time in court, a dissolution is typically far less expensive than a litigated divorce.
The need to settle matters before going to court helps reduce conflict, as the spouses have an incentive to cooperate with one another and resolve their disagreements as quickly and amicably as possible. Although emotions often become quite intense toward the end of a marriage, couples do not have to battle against one another and diminish their resources trying to end the marriage. Seeking legal guidance and cooperatively pursuing a marital dissolution in Ohio can be a lower-conflict, lower-cost solution that may work for many couples.]]>